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27 July, 2026On 8 and 9 July 2026, the Fédération Nationale de l'Energie Hydrocarbure et Mines et Industrie (FNEHMI) organized a training workshop on occupational health and safety. Bringing together 23 trade unionists, the workshop produced a medium-term action plan covering membership, dialogue, collective bargaining and occupational health and safety.
FNEHMI is affiliated to the Confédération Libre des Travailleurs de Mauritanie (CLTM). The workshop was organized in collaboration with IndustriALL. Of the 23 participants, 10 were women, representing various unions within the industry, mining and energy sectors.
The workshop was also attended by comrade Samori Baye, general secretary of CLTM. Comrade Ahmed Diakité, general secretary of FNEHMI, attended as well. Furthermore, comrade Kamel Omrane, IndustriALL MENA consultant, was present.
The workshop aimed to further integrate Mauritanian industrial trade unions into IndustriALL. It also sought to connect them to regional activities and union networks and structures. Moreover, it aimed to prepare FNEHMI leaders for dialogue with multinational companies.
Participants were trained in creating an action plan based on the ten pillars of trade unionism. The primary focus was health and safety.
They recommended: Strengthening trade union organizing within the energy and mining sectors. They urged expanding the trade union membership base. Additionally, they called for developing and implementing regular trade union training programmes.
Participants also called for efforts to extend the social protection umbrella to cover all energy and mining workers. Moreover, they called for a culture of occupational health and safety to be promoted through continuous training. They recommended working women’s committees be established and activated within trade unions to enhance youth participation.
At the end of the seminar, participants emphasized the importance of developing partnerships. They underlined the value of cooperation between national and international trade union organizations.
On the sidelines of the workshop, participants seized the opportunity to establish a working women’s committee within FNEHMI.
Ahmed Diakité, said:
“Such trainings enable our members and leaders to develop their capacities in a way that serves the aspirations of workers. We look forward to further cooperation with IndustriALL, with the aim of supporting education and training and enhancing the strength and capabilities of trade union leaders, thereby improving workers’ conditions and establishing decent working conditions.”
Samori Baye, said:
“We value the support of IndustriALL and its backing for trade unions in the energy and mining sectors. This development of trade unionists’ skills has a positive impact on workers’ lives.”
Ahmed Kamel, IndustriALL MENA regional secretary, said:
“We commend the militancy of FNEHMI leaders and members, and we reaffirm our continued solidarity to strengthen the union and help foster a generation of unionists to lead the way forward.”